Flames overcome Predators for 1st road win

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Calgary winger Todd Bertuzzi, bottom, collides with Predators defenceman Dan Hamhuis late in the second period on Thursday night. ((Mark Humphrey/Associated Press))

The Calgary Flames earned their first road win of the season after erasing a three-goal lead and defeating the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Thursday night.

Forward Mike Cammalleri scored on the power play with less than eight minutes left in the third period to give the Flames the victory.

Captain Jarome Iginla led the way for Calgary with a hat trick, and goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff rebounded from a tough second period to make 35 saves, including 14 in the opening period.

The Flames (3-3-1) were a respectable 21-19-1 on the road in 2007-08, but have only won once in three games this season away from the Saddledome.

"It's a good sign for us," said Kiprusoff. "You just have to keep believing there is still time. It was an unbelievable comeback and huge points for us."

David Moss scored Calgary's other goal, while Greg Zanon, Jordin Tootoo and Jason Arnott notched markers for Nashville. Dan Ellis had a strong first part to the game, but made only 22 saves on 26 shots.

The Flames got the go-ahead goal with fewer than eight minutes remaining in the third on the power play when Cammalleri redirected a shot by defenceman Dion Phaneuf behind Ellis.

Nashville (3-4-0) pressed for the tying goal only to be turned aside by Kiprusoff, who made several key stops late in third.

Iginla secured the victory for Calgary on an empty-net goal with three second remaining.

The Flames appeared headed for another road loss after they surrendered three straight goals in the second period.

The Predators stormed out to a two-goal lead with a pair of markers in a span of 19 seconds in the second.

Zanon opened the scoring at 5:42 as his one-timer from the point beat Kiprusoff to the blocker side. Tootoo then took advantage of a turnover by Calgary defenceman Cory Sarich moments later to go up 2-0.

The Nashville winger took a drop pass from Jerred Smithson and fired a shot by Kiprusoff.

Relentless pressure

The Predators' relentless pressure led to the third goal of the period at 8:10 on the power play. Arnott completed a beautiful passing play with J.P. Dumont, whipping the puck behind the out-of-position Kiprusoff.

"In the second period we pretty much owned Calgary," Ellis said. "Then in the third we just kind of let up and they took it to us. They were getting pucks and people to the net and they were banging home their rebounds. They just wanted it a little more than us."

But Iginla's third of the season cut Nashville's lead to 3-1 fewer than six minutes later. The captain was allowed to skate to the circle and snap a shot over the right shoulder of Ellis.

"A goal like that always gives you momentum," Calgary coach Mike Keenan said. "I think that was the big goal for us."

Calgary turned the game around in the third, scoring two goals in 1:13.

After Iginla brought the Flames to within goal at 6:52, Moss converted on a rebound for the equalizer.

Calgary, which also defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1 on Tuesday, won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

"Winning these two games like we did teaches us to stick with it," Iginla said. "We were down in both of those games.

"We want to come out blazing in every game, but if we're not doing that these are the types of games we can draw on. We can remember that it is possible to make a come back."

Rugged winger Todd Bertuzzi, who leads the Flames with five goals this season, headed to the team's dressing room late in the second after he was shaken up following a hit by Nashville defenceman Dan Hamhuis.

Hamhuis struck Bertuzzi in the face with his stick and fell on him just as Bertuzzi let a shot go toward Ellis. No penalty was called. Bertuzzi was able to return in the third period.